Set up your device for automatic unlock

You can set your Android phone to automatically unlock in certain circumstances. Then you won't need to manually unlock with your PIN, pattern, or password in those circumstances.

Note: Some of this information may not apply to all devices because Android isn't exactly the same on every device. These instructions are for devices with Android 6.0 and up. See what version of Android you have.

First, open the Smart Lock menu

On your device, open the Settings app .

Under "Personal," tap Security.

Under "Advanced," tap Trust agents. Make sure that "Smart Lock" is switched on.

Tap Back .

Under "Device security," tap Smart Lock.

Enter your PIN, pattern, or password. If you don't already have one set up, follow the on-screen prompts. You'll need to enter it any time that you want to change your Smart Lock settings.

Next, set how your device will automatically unlock

You can set Smart Lock to keep your device unlocked when:

You're carrying your device with you

Your device is in a certain place

You've connected a specific Bluetooth device

Your device recognizes your face

Note: When you don't use your phone for 4 hours, and after you reboot your phone, you'll need to manually unlock it with your PIN, pattern or password.

On-body detection

You can have your device stay unlocked when you have it on you — like if you're carrying it in your hand, pocket, or bag — using on-body detection.

This feature is available only on select devices.

How on-body detection works

The accelerometer built into your device keeps your device unlocked when it senses that it's being carried.

On some devices, on-body detection learns the pattern of your walk. If the accelerometer detects a walk that looks very different, it may lock your phone.

Important: On-body detection may not always be able to tell whose body is connected.

If you give your device to someone else while it's unlocked, your device may stay unlocked using on-body detection. As a security feature, on-body detection is less secure than a PIN, pattern, or password. Someone who takes your phone while it's unlocked with on-body detection could access your phone.

When your device senses that it's on your body
Unlock your device once and it stays unlocked as long as your device senses that it's on your body.

When your walk pattern is detected (not all devices)
On some devices, on-body detection learns the pattern of your walk. If it detects a walk that looks very different, it may lock your phone. If your phone is locked after walking, unlock the phone and it will adapt to new changes in your walk.

When your device is not on your body
Your device will automatically lock if your device senses that it's no longer on your body. After you put down your device, like if you set it on a table, your device can take up to one minute to lock.

When getting into a vehicle
After you get into a car, bus, train, or other vehicle, your device can take between 5 and 10 minutes to lock.Important: When you're on an airplane or boat, your device may not lock automatically. Make sure to lock manually if needed.

Tip: Accelerometer data about the pattern of your walk is stored on your device to help determine when you're carrying it. This data is deleted when on-body detection is turned off.

Add your home location

Remove your home location

To turn off your home as a trusted location, tap Turn off this location.

To clear your home address across Google, tap Edit Trash Clear.

Edit your home location

In the Smart Lock menu, tap Trusted places.

Tap your home location.

Tap Edit.

Enter the address that you want to use as your home.

Tip: If your home has multiple buildings at the same address, the trusted place that you want might be different from the actual address. To get better location accuracy, you can add the actual location of your home within the building complex as a custom place. See Add custom places below.

Add a trusted Bluetooth device

To pick a device from the list of connected devices, tap it. Only paired devices show in this list.

You may need to manually unlock your phone before the trusted device will keep it unlocked. This depends on the security of your connection and your device's version of Android.

Remove a trusted Bluetooth device

In the Smart Lock menu, tap Trusted devices.

From the list of trusted Smart Lock options, pick the device.

When asked if you want to remove the device from your list, tap OK.

Make sure you're secure when using trusted Bluetooth devices

Different devices support different Bluetooth standards and security capabilities. It's possible that someone could keep your phone unlocked by imitating your Bluetooth connection, even if your trusted device is no longer near. Your device isn't always able to determine whether your connection is secure from someone trying to imitate it.

If you get a notification on your phone: When your device can't determine that you're using a secure connection, you'll get a notification on your phone and may need to manually unlock your phone before the trusted device will keep it unlocked.

Bluetooth connectivity range can vary. Range depends on things like your device model, companion Bluetooth device, and your current environment. Bluetooth connectivity could be up to 100 meters. If someone takes your phone while it's near your trusted device, and if your trusted device has unlocked it, that person may be able to access your phone.

You can choose to keep your device unlocked when you tap a trusted NFC tag. For example, you can set up an NFC sticker in your car as a trusted NFC tag. When you touch this sticker with your device, your device will unlock.